Bruce Jones strips away much of the Peter David history of the character (I suppose it's still there, but it's deeply buried) to return Banner and the Hulk to something like the old days when Bruce had to control his rage in order to control the beast within him. It's not an unwelcome change of pace for a character who seems to embody change, but it's not a homerun either.
The stories presented in this volume are sparse and bare - intentionally. Where Peter David relied on verbal dexterity and wit, Jones often allows the images to speak for him. It's therefore a quick read and in some ways I was disapointed by that. I have nothing against John Romita Jr.'s artwork (except, perhaps, the sameness which he brings to everything he does - Thor, Spider-Man, etc. I long for him to experiment further with his style) but there were times when I longed to read more banter between the characters. If you're looking for serious character development, you're not going to get it here, as the emphasis is clearly on action. Jones did hook me with one thing though - I'm deeply curious about the identity of "Mr. Blue."

All in all a welcome departure and a return to tradition. Welcome back Purple Pants!

The "Return of the Monster" TPB collects issues of The Incredible Hulk #34-#37. This is also where Bruce Jones takes over writing duties, and John Romita Jr. takes overs pencils.

The basic plot of this book is this-- Bruce Banner is accused of the murder of a child named Ricky Myers. His death was captured on television during one of the Hulk's rampages, and now Bruce Banner and his alter ego are public enemy number one.

I was never a huge fan of The Hulk; I purchased this book only because of the creative team - Jones/Romita Jr. Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised.

Bruce Jones is a godsend for this Book after the mess that was made when Peter David departed. Jones' takes his time, some would say a bit too much, with the characterization and conspiracies that happen to Banner. Bald, on the run as a fugitive for killing a child, Banner has all sorts of trouble coming to haunt him.

He seems more fragile and wiry then shown before, the Paranoia take that the whole world is after you rings very true for Bruce, with seemingly hidden clues coming out of nowhere changing the direction of the story. this is comics at its best and most dynamic.

Romita's art. This guy is a genius, if the critical acclaim for Jones isnt enough, this book needs to be checked out for the prowess Romita shows. While his art is simple and not too outstanding for my tastes, what really delivers is how Romita visually conveys a sense of cinematic style not seen for a long time. And thats where he bags 12 out of 10 for me. Case in point: Banner's run in at the cafe with an Autistic Child, Banner's dreams morphing into real world circumstances etc.

The man is on top of his game here and fluid with a capital F. he draws Banner as a broken fragile man, it seems as if him and Jones share some intuitive thoughts about this Title. I cannot think of a better Artist to add to Jones magnificent take on the Hulk. His panels are just spot on with a little homage to Kirby coming through when the Hulk makes his few appearances. Yes, the Hulk does not come around much in this book but this is so good that you dont even think twice about it. A page turner

a must.

I first read this book some seven years ago as a text for a class intended to help graduating students prepare themselves for the world of work. Interestingly one of those graduates was intending to work in a start up business with digital cameras which he believed would emerge as the dominant force in the picture business. Probably telling the future is not a good business to be in.

Here in Northern New Jersey everyone knew, and still knows, all about downsizing and organizational flattening and outsourcing. Since the collapse of the tech-bubble, many of those independent contractors are now looking for work and escaping the computer field alltogether in the face of falling wage rates, excess supply and new entrants from college who expect a lot less!

Revisiting this book gives one the opportunity to rexamine it's claims and, not surprisingly, finds them lacking. To be fair, much of what the originator describes has come to pass but not in the way that he suggests.

The main lesson that I come away with from this book is that markets are so powerful that the competitive environment determines the shape of the organization. Obviously, some would say but this is only half of the story. Combine the power of markets which is, after all, only the result of individuals exercising choices, with a proactive government and you get a pretty unstoppable force. If the dollar is high then imports are [inexpensive] as compared to domestic goods which puts intense competitive pressure on companies who then must cut costs. Add to the mix a policy of a free trade area as NAFTA and a competitive labor market and there is even more pressure on costs. Finally have a boyant stock market and increased wealth and you have lots of venture capital looking for profit. The result, falling unemployment with little inflation and downward intense pressure on costs leading to more business. The picture is muddied somewhat by rising benefits costs but they become a force against rising costs too,

What I am describing is the pressure on business to focus on their core activities and float off internal activities which can be done by service companies contracted for the purpose. Wage bill too high - make workers contractors who then have to pay for their own benefits or better still get the states to introduce basic minimum health care schemes.

This nirvana of the dejobbed economy never really existed. Sure there are more small businesses and self-employed, sure there is more flexibility among the workforce but there is also compulsion, workfare, for the unemployed as well as the requirement for many families to work two, three or more jobs to make ends meet.

Hayek the Nobel prizewinner foresaw the person described in this book many years ago as did his mentor Mises. To be successful they argued the individual must market themselves as a self-entrepreneur. Very true.

This book is an excellent description of a possible future in the light of developments in business at the time. The author is to be commended for the clarity of his thought and exposition. However, he ignores the bigger picture and the implications of a global economy and powerful, interventionist governments. Perhaps he would like to write an update to this book in the light of the events of the last seven years.

The book argues that fewer people have jobs and more people are working in less traditional arrangements such as temporary work, consulting, and micro businesses. The book recommends that you assess your desires, abilities, temperament, and assests, and it suggests managing your self like a company.

This review was written as part of the Annotated Bibliography of Learning A Living; A Guide to Planning Your Career and Finding a Job for People with Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Dyslexia

In the era of downsizing and mergers, one hears far too many people bewailing what we've "lost": job security, well-defined career paths, companies that feel responsible for the people who work for them, employee loyalty. Bridges offers a more positive perspective: "work" as we conceive of it was an artifact of the Industrial Revolution, with its view of workers as cogs in a machine; and, as that rigid structure gradually disappears, so will our present concept of "jobs" and "careers."
This was one of the first ripples in what has become a massive wave of books on the changing business world, including recent examples like "Blur" -- but it's refreshing, easy to read, and can change your whole view of what "work" entails. I think it's especially important for young people still in school to read it: don't waste your efforts preparing for a traditional "career" that may not be there five years after you graduate; focus on developing your talents, your skills, and your entrepreneurial spirit instead, because those are what will be worth the most to you in the future.

In book #14 of the Bailey School Kids series, the gang goes back again to Camp Lone Wolf (you know, the one where the counselor may be a werewolf!). There they meet the bagpipe playing, wetsuit wearing, Scottish brogue speaking Nessie, the camp swimming teacher. There's something odd about her, and very odd about the shapes that seem to be surfacing in the lake late at night. Is it possible there's a monster in there?

"Monsters Don't..." is a cute, quickly moving book in this series, but it not one of the best books. It's confusing at a lot of points because the reader isn't sure if there's a separate monster from Loch Ness in the lake, or if the camp swim teacher is a monster herself. While this may seem to add to the mystery of the series and infuse it with that characteristic weird-creepiness seen in other books in the series, here in "Monsters Don't..." it just winds up being confusing. The ending is a bit weak, leaving readers wondering why the book ended when they finish the last page and the character of Nessie isn't very strong or well sketched out. If you're a diehard fan of the series, then by all means read it! However, if you're just picking up a few here and there, you may want to think about skipping this one.

I thought this book was good for first through third grade.I thought it was a really good book because the Bailey School kids think there is a monster in Lake Erin.I would recommend this book to first threw third grader because it is a short book with very big print. I thought when Eddie saw a tiny fish and thought it was a shark it was very funny.My favorite character was Eddie.Eddie is a redheaded boy who cracks me up.One reason I liked Eddie is that he likes to argue with the teacher.Eddie also hates school and reading.

I gave this book five stars because it was a great mystery. It
had a thrill about finding out if their scuba teacher is a lake monster.They eventually find out that she is a monster
but it brings in an adventure and mystery to find out.The book
brings in some beliefs and realistic things about monsters.

This book could have been entertaining reading if the writer had only stuck to the story line. It was diverting the way the book hopscotched here there and everywhere.

This is a good example of the old adage, "You can't tell a book by it's cover". At first glance the reader might expect a lusty romantic novel, but instead Mr. Nicastro's novel of John Paul Jones is a pleasant and memorable read, the kind of prose one likes to savor in large doses. He sets his tale up in France at the turn of the 18th Century, using the characters and the vernacular language to put the reader in the tone of the times. As the events of the American Revolution and the early exploits of our hero unfold, using now the present day vernacular, this reader was captivated by the stories. They were at once easy to follow and very often quite witty and clever. Without giving the entire novel away, let me say that fictitious characters blend so well with the real people and the real events blend so well with the humorous interpretations that one would like to believe that every detail was, in fact, true. The story, and the writing of it, is so good that I hope we shall have a sequel to enjoy for next summer's favorite book of the season!

Gripped by the flawed bravado of John Paul Jones, I was further pulled in by the book's clever framing device--a bet that revolves around a potential menage a trois. Nicholas Nicastro delivers an amusing historical tale that takes the reader in directions one would never expect from a book about America's first naval hero. Though the author presents the virtues of his character he seems to take greater relish presenting the character's flaws--a tactic that only adds to the reader's enjoyment while giving flesh and blood to an, up-until-now, dusty figure in American Revolutionary lore.

Forget about high school history books that describes Jones in one paragraph with the inevitable quote "I have not yet begun to fight." Did he actually say this? Who cares seems to be Nicastro's answer as he departs from this tired question, and doesn't even bother with that particular battle, when it was supposedly stated. Nicastro instead takes us into lesser known, choppier waters--more day to day battles that Jones fought as an imperious gnat leading an almost non-existent American navy against the powerful seafaring British. Jones's incursions against the Brits, as amusingly described in this book, amount to strange, even funny, misadventures.

The book also gets into Jones's post-war hobnobbing in France with such dignitaries as a very randy Benjamin Franklin.

As a lover of history and very human adventures I was only disappointed that the book wasn't longer. This fan waits with excitement for Nicastro's second book. If the author actually reads these, he should know that he's building a fan base.

This is a good book and it helps you read better because the words start out easy and then they get a little bit harder.

Wizards Don't Need Computers is about four kids,who go to the Baily City library. They find a new librarian. The four kids think he is a wizard from the middle ages. So they sneak into his desk and find a wand. One of the kids waves the wand in front of the wizard. Read the book to find out what happens.

This was the first Bailey School Kids book I ever read. It was good. I liked the wizard a lot!

I gave the book a neutral rating of three stars because I have not yet read it and for good reason. The reason for my review here is a matter of indignant protest that the author calls Jones "the Father of the American Navy" when that title has always referred to Commodore John Barry, never before to Jones. Barry was awarded the Navy's very first Commission from Pres. Washington, was an amazing naval hero during the Revolution and was offered command in the Royal Navy during the war but turned it down without a moment of hesitation. Because Barry was a devout Irish Catholic (went to Mass every day even while at sea) he has forever been overlooked, as a carryover of the time in which he lived, by both the writers of academic history textbooks and by most historians. Barry was a good, moral and exemplary man without stain on his character in any way. John Paul Jones made an indisputable great contribution to his country during the Revolution, but having a really great sound bite does not qualify him to replace John Barry as the Father of the Navy. I urge anyone interested to please do some research on the real Father of the Navy after you read the Jones book. (a wonderful painting was done of Barry by the famed Gilbert Stuart that hangs in the White House, in case anyone is interested)

For Evan Thomas to remind readers that John Paul Jones was his own worst enemy, that his vanity, ego and ambition rivaled those of the preening Alexander Hamilton is unnecessary and an understatement. John Paul Jones was, as much as the knowledge pained him, a glory hound. He was also one of the bravest, most skilled and dashing officers in the services of the United States during the Revolutionary War, and Thomas brings the cantankerous, manic-depressive little bulldog to vivid life for today's historians, history buffs and armchair adventurers. The highest highs and lowest lows of Jones's life toss, exalt, thrill, and lurch the reader like an unpredictable sea, and what a wonderful voyage it is!

John Paul Jones is the latest "self-made man" to appear in a biography, following on the heels of Willard Sterne Randall's cumbersome yet well-rendered "Alexander Hamilton: A Life." From humble roots, the son of a Scottish gardener, Jones was determined to rise from under the oppression of the European class system. He gazed out across the magnificent gardens created by his father and saw the ocean, with its seemingly endless horizon -and that is how Jones decided to live the rest of his life: He would expand, grow himself and mold his image anew, as wide as the sea, as broad as the sky.

As much taken with sail and sea as they took him, John Paul Jones was a natural, a gifted sailor who always tried to improve himself, whether his nautical skills, or by reading books to absorb philosophy and seeking the company of men from whom he knew he could learn. Unfortunately, Jones was never able to subdue his passions sufficiently, not sufficiently enough for any self-reflection to temper his sensitivities and thin skin, nor for him to ever cultivate the necessary strengths to achieve his highest ambition: Appointment to the rank of Admiral in the United States Navy. He would have to travel to Russia near the end of his life and enter the service of Catherine the Great to achieve that rank, but as fundamentally flawed and blameful as Jones was, he was not a rank human being. He was steadfast, loyal to his adopted country, America, and never gave in to the easy profit of privateering or ever turned his back on the Stars and Stripes.

He was as big-hearted and melodramatic as he was tragic and romantic, a sometimes womanizer who barely had a head for wine and never drank hard liquor. Like Thomas Jefferson, Jones was a paragon of paradox and yet always was, in the best sense, an American patriot.

It's painful to look on, page after page, reading about Jones's exploits and ideas, tactics and tales, only to see him constantly self-destruct, eventually alienating every single person around him. Nonetheless, Jones knew how to fight in an age where most men achieved rank through connections and lineage, and even though he didn't always win, he won enough: Jones was a tonic for fledgling America, and any other person or power savvy enough to employ his courage.

Sadly, Jones was far from the best judge of character, and often found himself in an impossibly frustrating, nightmarish circumstance because of his own inability to discern veneer from character, though Jones seems to have had plenty of character, and yet constantly coveted superficial laurels of those less worthy. But no matter how badly he may have comported himself, and in spite of how myopic most of his handlers were, blinded to Jones's full potential, "Little Jones" was indeed a mouse that roared.

Whether Jones ever knew it during his life, he certainly reflected the rigid principles of honor to which he held himself and others, and Evan Thomas has written a flowing, absorbing book about John Paul Jones, a man who cherished freedom above all else, and helped bring it to so many others.

John Paul Jones is, sadly, the most neglected historical figure of the American Revolutionary period. Most of this probably has to do with his personality - vain, egotistical,argumentative and difficult to get along with- rather than his superb skills as a sailor and naval commander. This book ought to bring him to the forefront of the pantheon of American heroes , right alongside Washington, Jefferson and Adams. Superbly written and researched, this is an excellent book and a fitting tribute to the founding father of the Armican navy. Highly recommended.

After having seen the glowing reviews for this book, I purchased this book hoping for something really eye-opening. Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed when I saw the book since there really isn't that much in the way of content. Rather than a book with detailed examples or case studies, what is presented is something that looks more like an outline of a book

First, a bit of background. I am a professor, and I will be teaching a new class on the interaction between information technology and HRM, and I bought this book hoping that it would make a good textbook for my students. There are a number of good books on Human Resource Information Sytems, but they mostly focus on the IS aspects rather than the HR aspects, and none look at anything other than information systems.

What is lacking are good books on how information technology is directly changing HR, as well as how work is being changed by IT (and thus, indirectly leading to HR changes as well). That is what I was hoping to find from "Virtual HR."

Instead, what is presented are a bunch of generalities and other fairly obvious observations without a great deal of insight or analysis. An example of something I found particularly irritating was some reviews of internet sites related to HR. I don't know about most other readers, but I had found all these sites (and many, many more) using the popular search engines on the internet. I didn't need to purchase a book for this.

Other xxamples of generalities without insight were the sections on the "touch screen" kiosk model and computer scoring. The section on computer scoring (What! I can use a computer scanner to score tests? Amazing!) reminds me of the news several years back of former President Bush's visit to the supermarket when he was amazed by the checkout scanners -- obviously the President hadn't been shopping in a while.

Instead, I would have liked to see something of substance. For example, if you are going to do the touch screen kiosk model of employee access, just how should it be done? Obviously, it could require some substantial changes in the whole organizational culture, since this might lead to a culture where employees have much more responsibility for managing their own jobs and careers, rather than have HR play the police/nanny role.

How about a lot of detailed information on telecommuting and the virtual organization? What sort of people and jobs are best suited for this management model? How do we get line managers to change to this new way of thinking?

The one point of this book that I did like was the fact that specific software applications were not covered. Things are changing so rapidly that any such attempt would be outdated very rapidly.

In summary, what this book presents is a not particularly insightful overview that is too basic except for the most beginning level. The coverage of technology topics is perhaps suitable for people that rarely use computers or bank machines, while the coverage of HR topics is only suitable for people with very little experience in HR.

I was disappointed. I'm a programmer working on an HR information system and I was looking for a programmer's introduction to Human Resources. The book is more of an HR professional's introduction to information systems. It contains a "workbook" approach that I found annoying, but perhaps HR people (the folks who brought you "teambuilding") like that sort of thing. It contains case studies of companies that have implemented HR information systems to good effect. It would be a good book to get your boss to read to convince her that you can save money by putting your HR functions on computers. But it won't tell either of you how to do implement the system.

I found the checklists in Virtual HR to be valuable in assessing a traditional HR department preparing for transition. This assessment process serves as a key initial step in transforming itself from a brick and mortar business into an e-business capable of surviving today's market realities. This book is ideal for non-technical professionals who need to reinvent themselves and their companies for the internet age.

This book is about a boy named Eddie and his friends Howie, Lisa

and Melody who have to help take care of his great aunt

Malthida. They do not want to do it because they think she is

mean. She is sick and Eddie's Grandma wants him to help her out.

The first day they got to her house they bring her some food

to eat that Eddie's Grandma had made for her. On that day that

they went, Howie who likes to eat potato chips saw a ghost in

the window of Aunt Mathilda's house. Eddie told his friend that

there is no such thing as ghosts.

The next day all the kids went back to Aunt Mathilda's house

to bring her some more lunch to eat. It was cold so they had to

warm it up for her. While lunch was heating up Aunt Mathilda and

the kids played poker. She played really good. They played to

long that lunch burned. Since lunch had burned they got her some

fast food for lunch. Some potato chips came with her lunch and

while they sat at the table eating and talking the potato chips

disappeared. When they got back to her house they gave her the

lunch and she said she liked it. While the kids were there she

got sick and had to go to the hospital.

While Aunt Mathilda was in the hospital the kids went to the

house to prove that there is no such thing as ghosts. The

electricity went out because of a storm so they couldn't see

very well in the attic. They saw a big trunk that looked like a

coffin. The kids all opened it at the same time and found Uncle

Jasper's hat and what else do you think they found? You will

have to read this book to find out what they find.

I really did like this book because I like Bailey School Kids

books.

This book is about a boy and his friends who have to care for there grea aunt. They do not like there great aunt becase she is really mean so thy don't want to help her.She is sick. So the first day they go over to give the food to her. One of the boys lkes to eat potato chips and that day he say a ghost in the window. So he told his friend. he did not belive it so he said, "There are no such things of ghosts!" The next day som gils came along and that day they gave the food and it was cold so she said to heat it up. So they played a game of poker while it was cooking and they played so many games it was so long that it was burning. they had to get her new food so they got fast food. they got some potato chips with it and they opend it and thy stoped to talk and sat at a table and sat the chips down and while they where talking some of the cips were gone. When they got back they gave the food to her and said, " I like it!" So they said I am glad you do.that same day she got even sicker and they had to call the hospital to come pick her up and she got back there at the hospital good. And if you want to now what happens you will have to BUY the book.

I realy did like the book because I like the Baily School Kids books.

Unusual occurrences are becoming...well, *usual* in and around Bailey School. The third grade has a vampire for a teacher. A werewolf is the local camp counselor, and even Santa Claus has put in an appearance as the elementary school's custodian. So, should it really be ALL that odd to find a potato chip-munching ghost at Aunt Matilda's house??

Eddie & the gang are back in this, the 5th installment of the Bailey School Kids series. This time Eddie's old Aunt Matilda is at home sick and Eddie's mom has sent him over to tend to her. In addition to being a very grumpy, demanding old woman, her house appears to be haunted! Weird noises come from the creaky old attic, food left lying out is mysteriously eaten though no one is around, Aunt M. herself talks to her dead husband, potato chips fall to the ground and spell out mysterious words... Just what IS going on around here?? IS there a ghost in the attic??

Unlike the other Bailey School Kids books where the supernatural creature has a main role (vampire as teacher, leprechaun as basketball coach, etc), the ghost is not one of the main characters and seems to occupy the fringe of the story. This adds a note of realism to this series and makes it much more like a traditional ghost story (that is, creepy!). While not as outright scary as other books in the intermediate horror/spooky genre, "Ghosts Don't..." is a departure from the more-amusing-than-scary books preceding this one. I still wouldn't classify it as "horror" fiction, because while it does get creepy sometimes, it's hardly horrifying.

It's an easy read and catchy series. As an adult, I can finish off a Bailey School Kids book in about 20 minutes and have found myself working my way steadily through the series (reviewing most along the way). They're fun and quick, and hence even children and students who don't usually read find themselves easily reading them cover-to-cover.

In this, the 3rd Bailey School Kids series, a new janitor has come in to replace the regular custodian who has just quit after finding the school banister covered in peanut butter. A mysterious, bearded, pipe-smoking gent by the name of Mr. Jolly steps in to take over.

Mr. Jolly bears a striking resemblance to Santa Claus, and he's forever watching the 3rd grade gang and taking notes in a small red notebook. He also keeps turning down the thermostat to meat locker temperatures and shows an amazing ability to clean up the most horrible messes within moments... Magic, perhaps??

This book is much less frightening than the first two books which involved more supernatural creatures and creepy goings-on. For young readers who may get spooked all too easily, but who like a good mystery (IS Mr. Jolly REALLY Santa??), this would be a good choice. Children who are LOOKING for that spooky, creepy sort of plot line (a few steps lower on the scariness scale than the Goosebumps series) may be disappointed with this installment. Still, it is a fast-paced, short book, so it is a good choice for emergent readers.

It must be the generation gap setting in - I don't much like this series, but my 8 year old has just about eaten up the series. I like books with more of a plot, and a little bit deeper - but everyone needs a good 'escape' read every so often.

On the bright side, these are a short read for kids. There is no violence, although it seems pretty clear that their teacher is a vampire since she comes from Transylvania and talks with an accent.

The other up side is that if we read these together (which we like to do), we can each try out the Transylvanian accent.

If you need books to read by yourself (for those under 10), I'd say go for these. Parents can rest assured that these books are a nice adventure for the kids.

The funny part of the story is when Eddie stuffed toilet paperin his t-shirt because he said look i'm a jiggly santa.

Although this book is quite limited in it's perspective, it does offer both candid and posed tips on modern Russian culture. Mr. Yeltsin's copious jottings reveal his personal taste for style and political power. The writings also reveal some of the cultural challenges that plague the Russian people such as; peer presure among adults for consumption of vodka and the need for modern business people to find a moral code that will promote sound national and international business practices. The extensive political reporting which Mr. Yeltsin has voiced would indicate that Russian self-government is still in the developing stages and has many hurtles to pass. However the outlook is hopeful and not blindly so. One leaves the text wondering how we might come to learn more of President Putin's own style of politics. An interesting read for anyone studying modern Russian culture, this book is by no means an authoratative overview on the culture.

Yeltsin's memoirs are without doubt interesting and necessary source for everybody who's looking to understand what really has happened in Russia during 90s. But unfortunately this is only half or even less of that what Yeltsin really could tell us. First of all, this is not of course Yeltsin who has written this book. Real authors are Valentin Yumashev, who is also author of Yeltsin's previous memoirs, and Tatyana Dyatchenko, Yeltsin's daugther. Reading this book you could find almost in every chapter how authors had tried to save Yeltsin's face for history. They succeeded if reader is not well informed about Russia. But for them who have lived this through, Yeltsin's book is too one-sided and not really trustful piece.

No wonder that this book attracted such negative reaction from 'experts' in Russian politics. What seemed almost to everyone as illogical, bizarre behavior of a senile tsar suddenly becomes clear, simple and logical. Yeltsin describes day by day his struggle for power since he started his presidential race with support of only 3% of popular support. As one reads the book it becomes evident that Yeltsin always had a very clear and realistic picture of what was happening around him. He could let people believe that he was too sick and weak to rule, watched who, how and when tried to get the power. Like a good hunter Yeltsin stoke deadly blows on his foes when they truely believed he was under their control. Yeltsin analyzes the situation, decides who's his friend or foe, plans his actions and acts without remorse. The book reads like a novel that unfolds the secrets of Russian under carpet bulldogs fighting.